Spring suspension for vehicles.



C. W. VAN VLEET. SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES. APFILIQATION r1150ocns. 1911.

1,165,350. iatented Dec.21,1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

W'TNESSES: INVENTUR ATTORNEYS C. W. VAN VLEET.

SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED ocLG. 1911.

1,165,350, Patnted Dec. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- r ATTORNEYS orro.

CHARLES W. VAN 'VLEET, 0F SAUGERTIES, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, IBY DIRECT ANDMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-THIRD TO JAMES T. MAXWELL AND ONE-THIRD TOROBERT E. HALEY, BOTH OF SAUGERTIES, NEW YORK.

STRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 6, 1911. Serial No. 653,105.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it. known that I, CHARLES W. VAN VLEET, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Saugerties, county of Ulster, and

v State of New York, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsIn Spring Suspensions for Vehicles, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in spring suspensions for vehicles,and is especially designed to relieve the suspension springs in vehiclesfrom all lateral and endwise strains, yet permitting the free action ofthe spring, as a cushioning device.

One object of my invention is to provide a device of this class, whichis simple, strong and efiicient, and not liable to get out of order.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a device, which isespecially applicable to motor propelled vehicles .having suitabletransmission gearing in which the wheel carrying axle is rigidly held inposition with respect to the transmission apparatus, whereby thetransmission apparatus may be more simplified and made more efficient. 7

Further objects, features and advantages will more 'clearly appear fromthe -detailed description given below, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings which form a part of this specification.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of my improvements in one form,the body of the vehicle being omitted, and certain parts belng brokenaway, in order to moreclearly illustrate the same. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of parts shown in Fig. 1, showing also a portion of the bodyframe and the cushioning spring. Fig. 3 is an end view of one ofthesupplementary frames shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an end view of the othersupplementary frame shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the various drawings, 1 represents aportion of a frame, orbody portion of a motor driven vehicle. Rigidly secured to the rear partof the body portion of the vehicle near the rear or driving axle is aplurality of downwardly extending members 2, 3, 4, and 5. Extendingbetween the members 2 and 3, is a journal pin 6, and

extending between the members 4 and 5 is a journal pin 7 Pivotallymounted about the journal pins 6 and 7, is a supplementary stantiallyhorizontal line, transverse the body of the vehicle, and the frame 8 isprovlded wlth a journal bearing 10 at right angles to said line, and inthe present instance, in the same plane therewith. J ournaled in thebearing 10 is a journal 11, rigidly secured to or integral with a secondsupplementary frame 12, so that the frame 12 is rotatably or pivotallyconnected with respect to the frame 8, the pivotal axis being at rightangles to the axis about which the frame 8 is pivoted. The frame 12 isprovided with journals 13 and 14, in which is journaled an axle 15.Secured to the ends of the axle 15 are the usual supporting wheels 16.Also rigidly secured to the axle 15 is a beveled gear 17, adapted tomesh with a gear 18, which is rigidly secured to a shaft 20, passingthrough anopening in the journal 11, and connected with a universaljoint, as at 21, 22, the universal joint'21, 22, being in turn connectedto a shaft 23, which isdriven in any well known manner as by a suitablemotor.

In order'to prevent the frame 12 having any movement in a directionparallel to the axis about which it is pivoted, there is bolted to theend of the journal 11, by means of bolts 24, a cap plate 25. Opposingthe cap plate 25 is a collar 35, integral with the frame -12, andbearing against the end of the journal bearing 10, opposite to that uponwhich the cap plate 25 bears. The frames 8 and 12 are provided withsuitable cotiperating bearing surfaces carried. by the parts 26, 26, and27 27, respectively. The frame 12 also has rigidly secured theretosupporting beds 28, to whichare secured cushioning devices or springs29, of any well known sort. The opposite sides of the springs 29 aresecured to beds 30, which are slidably mounted on the body portion 1.The frame 8 is laterally reinforced by means of diagonal struts 31, 31,so that it is made amply strong, to resist all side thrusts. The frame 8is, as will be seen from Fig. 1, pivoted at two points, as at thejournal pins 6 and 7, considerably separated from one another, therebymaking the device much stronger and more effective. In a similar mannerthe frame 12 is provided with journal bearings Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

1313, and 1414, considerably separated,

' and connected by strong struts 32.

' In operation, the axle carrying frame 12 is 'allowed a free up anddown motion in order to allow the, cushioning device 29 to accomplishits usual function in reducing from all movement longitudinally withrespect to the vehicle, so that any strains due to the quick starting orstopping of the vehicle, or of a similar nature, do not fall in ionlng,devices.

In a like manner since the journals 9 are located near the rear ordriving axle and shaft 23 is connected with the shaft 20 by universalconnection the frame 12 is held rigid from all sidewise or lateralmovement,

any way upon the springs 29, or other cushso that the springs 29 arelikewise relieved from all-strains due to the load tending to throw thebody of the vehicle to one side. The bearing plates 26 and 27 providefor theeasy oscillation of the frame -12, with respect to the frame 8,without in any way binding, and they also effectively brace one framewith respect to the other. By making the ournal 11 rigid with orintegral with frame'12, the device is made much stronger,

nd by providing the cap plate 25 firmly bolted thereto, the journal 11is prevented from having any longitudinal movement within the bearing10, thereby greatly simplifying the apparatus and rendering it muchstronger. This also obviates any necessity for a sliding connection inthe driving shaft 20 between the universal joints 21-22, andthe bevelgears 17 and 18.

From the above it will be clear that I have provided exceptionallysimple, durable and efficient apparatus for the suspension of springs inmotoroperated vehicles, and itwill also be clear that it is well adaptedto any other class of vehicles.

Although I have described my improvements in great detail and withrespect to one particular form, nevertheless I do not desire to belimited to such details, since many changes and modifications may wellbe made without departing from the spirit andscope of my invention inits broadest aspects.

Having fully and clearly described my improvements, what I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a vehicle the combination of a body portion, a frame pivotallymounted to the body portion about a horizontal transverse is, a secondframe pivotally mounted to t e first frame about-an axis at rightangles.

ond frame and the body portion, a'motor driven shaft connected to saidlast mentioned shaft by a universal joint, and supporting wheels carriedby the axle.

2. In a vehicle the combination of a body portion, a frame pivotallymounted to the body portion, a second frame pivotaily mounted to thefirst frame, an axle journaied in said second frame, means forpreventingthe second frame moving longitudinally relatively to the first frame,said frames having, opposing bearing surfaces at the end of the firstframe near the axle and ashaft journaled in said second frame fordriving the axle, said first mentioned frame being pivoted to the bodyportion near said driving axle, cushioning means between said secondframe and the body portion and supporting wheels carried by the axle.

3. In a vehicle the combination of a body .portion, a frame pivotallymounted to the body portion about a horizontal transverse axis, a secondframe pivotally mounted t the first frame about an axis at rightanglesto the first mentioned axis, an axle journaled 4:. In a vehiclethe combination of a body 1 portion, a frame pivotally mounted to thebody portion about a horizontal transverse axis, a second framepivotally mounted to the first frame, an axle journaled in said secondframe, said frames having opposing bearing surfaces at the end of thefirst frame near the axle, a shaft journaled in said second frame fordriving the axle, said first mentioned frame being pivotally mounted onthe body portion at the rear near said .driving axle, and cushioningmeans between said second frame and the body portion.

"5. In a vehicle, the combination of a body portion, a frame pivotallymounted with respect to the body portion about an axis extending in ahorizontal line transverse the vehicle, a second frame pivotally mountedto the first frame about an axis at right angles to said first mentionedaxis, said frames having opposing bearing surfaces at the end of thefirst frame near the axle, means for pre-- venting the second frame-frommoving relatively to the first frame in the direction of said secondmentioned axis, an axle journaled in said second frame about an axis atright angles to said last mentioned axis, a shaft journaled in saidsecond frame for driving the axle, one or more universal jointsconnected to said shaft for connecting the same with a prime mover,cushionlng means between sald second frame and body portion, andsupporting wheels carried of the second frame, a wheel-carrying axle'journaled in said second frame, a shaft journaled in said second framefor driving the axle, one or more universal joints connected to saidshaft for connecting the same with a prime mover, and cushioning meansbetween said second frame and body portion.

7. The combination of the body portion (1), the frame (8), the twojournals (6, 7) i for pivoting it tothe 'body portion about a horizontaltransverse axis, the elongated journal bearing (10) carried by the said.frame at right angles to the said axis, the axle 15 carriedby the frame12, the frame (12) having a journal (11) cooperating with the bearing(10), the cap plate (25) for securing the journal (11) in place, saidframes having the bearings (26, 27) at the end of theframe (8) near theaxle (15) and the driving shaft (20) passing through the journal (11),or their equivalents.

In testimony whereof, I have signed by name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES W. VAN VLEET.

Witnesses:

'JoHN HALLENBECK, FRANK KLEIN.

